FINAL RESULTS: 2015 Portage County Amateur Championship

The 85th Record-Courier Portage County Amateur is in the record books, but only after a dramatic finish in the County Division, a hard-fought victory in the Open Division, and a solid round by the Women’s champion.

The day included a sudden-death playoff and changing standings as spectators encouraged their favorite players making their way around Oak Knolls Golf Course on the final day of the event.

COUNTY DIVISION

2015 Portage County Amateur County Division Champion Mike Kenney of Kent, runner-up Nick Polichena of Ravenna, third place finisher Andrew Hinton of Aurora.

Michael Kenney of Kent, a recent graduate who is headed to Ohio University to play golf for the Bobcats, knew he was ahead of the golfers in the championship pairing.

Kenny finished with a one-over-par 73 after starting his day with a bogey on the first hole.

Regrouping, he fired eight straight pars before starting the back nine with a bogey

Getting back on track, he birdied the 11th hole and ticked off seven straight pars on his way to that one-over round.

The other golfers in the championship pairing, Andrew Hinton of Aurora and Collin Marozzi of Rootstown, were not as sharp.

Marozzi, after an opening day 74, finished with an 81 while HinwITH ton had an up-and-down round complete with eight holes of at least a bogey while he converted two birdies on his way to a 79.

But looking for his change to move up in the standings was Nick Polichena of Ravenna.

Many people know Nick from his days on the Ravenna Ravens team. He now works at Windmill Golf Club.

On the first day he was just out of the championship pairing but at Oak Knolls Polichena found his game with the low score of the day among all competitors, an even-par 72.

That put Polichena into a tie with Mike Kenny as they both totaled two-day scores of 148.

Kenney and Polichena trekked to the first tee to begin the sudden-death playoff to determine the winner.

Many golfers and spectators stayed to watch the playoff between the former Rough Rider and Raven.

In the play-off, Polichena put his third shot just over the green while Kenney stuck his approach within eight feet of the pin.

Polichena, knowing he probably needed to sink his chip shot, landed short of the pin while Kenny stepped up and put his putt in the hole with confidence to win the playoff.

Former Amateur champions did well in this 85th edition. Dave Cutlip of Suffield, the two-time reigning Portage County Senior Am champion and former Amateur champion, finished in fourth place while reigning Jr. Amateur Champion, Chris Sloe of Aurora, former Amateur champion Rob Schustrich all finished in the top 10.

OPEN DIVISION

2015 Portage County Amateur Open Division third place finisher Tim Morrow of Boardman, Champion Austin Zoller of Summerville, SC, and runner-up Luke Liberatore of Solon.

When the day started, Austin Zoller of Summerville, SC and Luke Liberatore of Solon were tied with identical score of 70 following 18 holes at Windmill.

Following Oak Knolls, Zoller was three-over-par and Liberatore was six-over-par as Zoller took home the championship trophy.

Rounding out the top three, Tim Morrow of Boardman, who played golf for Youngstown State University carded a 79 to finish in third with a 152.

Finally, Brett Beatty of Stow, the 2014 runner-up, was in fourth-place just two-strokes out of the top three.